Battlestar: Meet Romo Lampkin

It’s been two weeks since Kara’s “death” (or whatever you think happened to her), and everyone is dealing with it in their own way:

• Adama is going through her personnel file (finding among other things: scads of disciplinary reports and a funny birthday card where she drew an Olmos’ like mustache on a picture of herself and declared a resemblance)

• Roslin is back to business randomly picking members of Baltar’s tribunal (conveniently — for the drama, I mean — picking Adama)

• Sam is drunk and disorderly (Kara would probably approve of that method)

• Lee is at the memorial wall about to put her picture next to Kat’s, as she asked him to do (but then gets called away to talk Sam down)

It was quite believable when CAG Apollo blew his pilot briefing by yelling at Starbuck that she got off easy this time, er, he means Racetrack. Usually the phrase “got off easy this time” would be accompanied by the name “Starbuck,” so we can see how that would be rote for him. Their relationship consisted of a lot of yelling, so he’s saddened by yet another realization of what’s missing with Kara gone. Adding insult to injury, his father then grounds him and replaces him with Helo as CAG.

Baltar’s lawyer — straight out of Ambulance Chasing 101 — dies in an act of sabotage to Racetrack’s raptor (hence, the “got off easy” above). Roslin has to find another, and digs Romo Lampkin out from under the rock where defense lawyers grow. At first, I’m thinking this guy is a perfect fit for Baltar: both freakily egocentric, only Lampkin is slightly more linked to reality. What is up with the sunglasses? Who is this guy, Bono? As the episode went on, the shtick grew on me (love the cat he planted on Roslin’s desk), but get that guy a lozenge. We have enough trouble with low-talkers on this show; we don’t need to add a little throatiness to the mix.

Since he doesn’t have anything better to do — feeling sorry for himself doesn’t count — Lee is put in charge of Lampkin’s security. How she did it, I don’t know, but Roslin managed to find the protégé of Joseph Adama, who we find out spent his career defending the worst of the worst to find out “why we do what we do.” Lampkin is going to fill an interesting role for Lee; I’m just not sure which yet: mentor, older brother, friend (or maybe a combination). I like the dynamic between the two characters, because we see a new, deeper aspect to Lee. It fleshes him out beyond the two-dimensional hero/pretty boy (no, “Black Market” doesn’t count; I’ve blocked that one out).

The cat as prop comes in handy when it gets out on deck, and while everyone is scrambling to find it, Chief comes upon another bomb planted on the raptor that was to take Lampkin and Lee to Colonial One. Adama is furious when he finds out. He does have a point about the lousy security Lee is providing when he didn’t check for a completely obvious bomb. Lee is constantly trying to prove himself to his father, which even results in a “my loss is greater” contest over Kara.

Was Lampkin sending secret messages to Six when he took off his glasses during his interview of her? They held eye contact a little too long and intently for my taste. She seemed a little mesmerized. Is he one of them? Or better, one of the five? Does he have to wear the glasses to keep the mindbeams in his head? What about his theft of Baltar’s pen?

In just one episode, we’ve managed to learn more about Romo Lampkin than we have about a lot of the supporting cast (Cally? Hot Dog? Tory?), assuming he isn’t making it all up. His parents were kidnapped and murdered, and then he developed a klepto habit to rival Queen Mary’s. Not that he’s kicked it: not only did he steal Baltar’s pen (from the guards who stole it for Ros), but also Roslin’s glasses, Adama’s uniform button and the prosecutor’s shoe. He drew the line at Lee since he’s had so much stolen from him already, little buddy! Lampkin also stole some doohickey from Kelly, a crew member who’s been there two years but we’ve never seen him until this episode (I spent the whole show wondering where I’d seen the actor before … it’s “Plow Guy” from Men in Trees). Lee realizes Kelly is the mad bomber.

Lee proves he isn’t completely inept at providing security just in time for Adama to reinstate him as CAG. Unfortunately, Lee is enjoying hanging out with Lampkin. BTW, my favorite line from last week’s preview was an editing job. (What is this, a reality show?) Adama actually says “You’re a CAG, not a lawyer;” the line “you’re a pilot” comes later in his diatribe. Lee calls him out: “why did you give me the books? With Zach gone and Kara gone, you need someone to carry the flag?” Well, duh. He gave you the books before Kara “died.” They have yet another father-son standoff when Lee asks if he’s being ordered to return to duty. Adama grumps out to CIC to tell Tigh that “my son has more important things to do” and good dog Helo is being rewarded with a nice, juicy … job as CAG.

Lee finally gets around to putting Kara’s photo on the wall, and runs into Sam hobbling around on crutches after his drunken exploits. When he tells Lee he’ll see him around, I think he’s saying that to us, too. Goodbye, Michael Trucco.

I think Romo Lampkin may be making a run for Adama’s role as philosophical quote generator. He returns Baltar’s pen with this note: “There is no greater ally, no force more powerful, no enemy more resolved than a son who chooses to step from his father’s shadow — Romo Lampkin.” The way it was read, it sounded like one of those historical document voiceovers from a Civil War documentary. On second look, I wonder what Lampkin is aiming at. Is there more afoot than just defending Baltar? When he said he tries to understand why people do what they do, is he aiming that understanding at more than just Baltar? Is he getting between Lee and his father on purpose? Might he be more than just a protégé of Joseph Adama? I guess we’ll just have to wait for more of the continuing stooooorrrrry next week.

Bonus Scene: Athena and Cally have a brief face-off over the bombs. Both go with “I didn’t say it was you,” in that “but I think it might be” kind of way.